Do the stock CDI boxes just suddenly fail ??

Bill Hilly · 04-29-2023, 11:40 PM

I see a lot of post on CDI boxes, and I was wondering if the stock ones just suddenly fail with no warning, or are there warning signs ? I take long rides way out in rural areas that the houses are few, and far between, and there is often little to no traffic on the roads. I carry gas, and some tools, as well as the stock plug with me, and I need to carry flat tire stuff, but is a spare CDI ,just to carry a good idea??
Thanks

XLsior · 04-30-2023, 02:33 AM

If you're riding solo anywhere remote a spare CDI and coil wouldn't hurt and are not particularity heavy or bulky items to find space for...

With further multiple day trips I would start to considered spare clutch/throttle cables.

Mudflap · 04-30-2023, 07:18 AM

While riding my Lifan 140 powered Trail 90 near Scottie's Castle in Death Valley the engine suddenly quit running. I checked for spark and found none. Plugged in the spare CDI that I always carry and zoom zoom. Yes they can fail suddenly without warning. I carry a spare on all my Chinese bikes that will be ridden in remote areas.

Megadan · 04-30-2023, 07:21 AM

You can even carry it right where the stock one is. The top of the airbox area under the seat is a great place to store said parts. Out of sight, out of mind.

TominMO · 04-30-2023, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudflap

While riding my Lifan 140 powered Trail 90 near Scottie's Castle in Death Valley the engine suddenly quit running. I checked for spark and found none. Plugged in the spare CDI that I always carry and zoom zoom. Yes they can fail suddenly without warning. I carry a spare on all my Chinese bikes that will be ridden in remote areas.

Another important point is that when you get your spare CDI, stick it in the bike to make sure it actually works. I'd feel pretty embarrassed to rely on a spare part that was nonfunctional. Like inner tubes with lightening holes.

CheapThrills · 04-30-2023, 12:47 PM

I upgraded to another CDI, and keep the stock CDI on the bike as a spare.

buzz · 04-30-2023, 06:15 PM

Ya thats a good ideal,think I will get myself another one and keep old 1 for a spare.

Wild Dog · 05-01-2023, 09:18 PM

Stock CDI units and coils are reliable, people like to change them, because they can or they want to improve it a tiny bit.

I changed the CDI unit for one that's made in my country you can select a few timing settings at different rpms, you can set the rpm limit and it has a nive wire with a led that you fit it somewhere to see if you are at the rpm limits.
It needs a ignition coil with a plug with a 5k ohms resistor spark plug resistor.
So i got a plug a better ignition coil.

While that cdi and ignition coil has more features than the oem, i still carry the oem cdi and coil in the motorcycle tucked away in tools box. Due the single fact that oem cdi and coil are reliable units, maybe they are basic but they work for a long time..

That deosn't mean you can't get lemon but a lemon cdi is easy to spot very early on

04-29-2023, 11:40 PM	#1
Bill Hilly Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 934	Do the stock CDI boxes just suddenly fail ?? I see a lot of post on CDI boxes, and I was wondering if the stock ones just suddenly fail with no warning, or are there warning signs ? I take long rides way out in rural areas that the houses are few, and far between, and there is often little to no traffic on the roads. I carry gas, and some tools, as well as the stock plug with me, and I need to carry flat tire stuff, but is a spare CDI ,just to carry a good idea?? Thanks
	0

04-30-2023, 02:33 AM	#2
XLsior Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Australia Posts: 1,288	If you're riding solo anywhere remote a spare CDI and coil wouldn't hurt and are not particularity heavy or bulky items to find space for... With further multiple day trips I would start to considered spare clutch/throttle cables. Last edited by XLsior; 04-30-2023 at 04:58 AM.
	1

04-30-2023, 07:21 AM	#4
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,014	You can even carry it right where the stock one is. The top of the airbox area under the seat is a great place to store said parts. Out of sight, out of mind. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
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04-30-2023, 12:47 PM	#6
CheapThrills Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Lehigh Valley Area Posts: 148	I upgraded to another CDI, and keep the stock CDI on the bike as a spare. __________________ - My 2 Bikes: TaoTao TBR7 Boom Vader Gen 2 (BD125-10) Testing a YouTube Channel
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04-30-2023, 07:18 AM	#3
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,872	While riding my Lifan 140 powered Trail 90 near Scottie's Castle in Death Valley the engine suddenly quit running. I checked for spark and found none. Plugged in the spare CDI that I always carry and zoom zoom. Yes they can fail suddenly without warning. I carry a spare on all my Chinese bikes that will be ridden in remote areas.
	2

04-30-2023, 06:15 PM	#7
buzz Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Dayton Pa. Posts: 862	Ya thats a good ideal,think I will get myself another one and keep old 1 for a spare.
	2

05-01-2023, 09:18 PM	#8
Wild Dog Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Argentina Posts: 756	Stock CDI units and coils are reliable, people like to change them, because they can or they want to improve it a tiny bit. I changed the CDI unit for one that's made in my country you can select a few timing settings at different rpms, you can set the rpm limit and it has a nive wire with a led that you fit it somewhere to see if you are at the rpm limits. It needs a ignition coil with a plug with a 5k ohms resistor spark plug resistor. So i got a plug a better ignition coil. While that cdi and ignition coil has more features than the oem, i still carry the oem cdi and coil in the motorcycle tucked away in tools box. Due the single fact that oem cdi and coil are reliable units, maybe they are basic but they work for a long time.. That deosn't mean you can't get lemon but a lemon cdi is easy to spot very early on
	1